Work is powering ahead across Wollongong's four new public preschools, as the Minns Labor Government continues delivering the largest expansion of public preschools in the state's history.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully MP will inspect the Lake Heights Public School preschool construction today, where excavation works are well underway and structural works are set to begin.
Across the Wollongong electorate construction is progressing at public preschools on the sites of Berkeley West, Hayes Park and Cringila Public Schools.
Works commenced across all four public preschools from late last year and are on track to be open by early 2027 thanks to the NSW Government cutting planning red tape, fast-tracking the delivery of new preschools by up to eight months.
Once open, the new public preschools will unlock places for up to 320 local children per week in the year before they start school.
The new preschools will offer high-quality early learning to support children's transition to kindergarten and schooling, as well as ease pick up and drop off for parents with older students at the same school.
In addition to state-of-the-art learning areas, each new preschool will include staff facilities, a kitchen, toilet facilities and landscaped outdoor play areas.
They form part of the NSW Government's $769 million commitment to double the number of public preschools in the state. Once complete up to 9,000 children will benefit from access to fee-free, high quality early education in their local community.
Of the 100 new public preschools, 51 are in metropolitan Sydney and 49 in regional NSW, prioritised in areas of highest need based on a rigorous selection process.
The 100 new public preschools program is part of the NSW government's historic investment in early learning as part of their work to give every child across the state the best possible start to their education, including:
- $100 million to help community preschools provide more hours and welcome more children
- $60 million to build and upgrade 50 preschools at non-government schools
- $200 million to support Aboriginal-led early learning
- $20 million for capital works at not-for-profit early learning services in areas of need, and
- More than $29 million for scholarships to increase the number of early childhood educators.
These new public preschools are among some of the first built in NSW in almost 20 years, providing a sharp contrast to the former Liberal National government, which failed to build a single public preschool in its twelve years in office.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"Where your child lives should not limit what they can achieve, and every child should have access to high quality early learning.
"For far too long, families in communities like Wollongong had limited access to quality early childhood education, and the Liberals failed to deliver a single public preschool during their 12 years in government.
"This is all part of the Minns Labor Government's commitment to give every child in NSW the best start in life."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:
"It's exciting to see work underway at Lake Heights Public to deliver a new fee free public preschool.
"This is just one of four being built in the Wollongong electorate to help families access education sooner to give their children the best possible start in life.
"The Minns Labor Government is making sure in Wollongong and across the state our littlest learners start their education on the right foot."
Lake Heights Public School Principal Kieren Corbyn said:
"We are very excited about connecting with the families in our community and welcoming our youngest learners.
"We look forward to supporting the beginning of their school journey at our new public preschool."
